network automation

Hello everyone and welcome back to our NetDevOps blog series. Starting with this post I will cover one of the most interesting building blocks we used in our CI/CD demo: pyATS & Genie. It is used internally at Cisco to test new software versions / products, and now it is also available for free…

It is commonly said that the best software developers write very little code. So much code is available online, so many libraries and frameworks exist, that there is little reason in most cases to start your new software project from a blank slate. However, finding the best code for your use case is…

This blog is one in a series focusing on aspects of Cisco DNA and intent-based networking. #IntentBasedNetworking Several years ago, I ghostwrote a book chapter for the CEO of an e-commerce company. The gist of the chapter was about the challenge of content management. The challenge, you…

Evolve. Be Relevant. Get Certified. Why are a bunch of CONEs (Crusty Old Network Engineers) rallying around a certification focused on programming? The short answer is that we, too, must evolve and keep our skills relevant. The new Cisco DevNet certifications announced at Cisco Live US 2019 give us…

Digital Transformation calls for the right combination of people, process and technology. Done right, it brings efficiency and the agility to deliver what the business needs – fast. Done wrong, it can result in more complexity and cost – especially in a globally distributed business. In this blog I…

This blog is one in a series focusing on aspects of Cisco DNA and intent-based networking: #IntentBasedNetworking You’ve probably read a hundred articles, blogs or documents about network automation. Given its promised benefit, it’s little wonder. Unfortunately, automation claims have become so ubiq…

Business customers in every industry are facing fierce competition from digital born-in-the-cloud disruptors. As their businesses have grown, so has the complexity of their networks. Yet, the network is at the heart of their business, and increasingly so is software, cloud, and IoT, so digital trans…

Automation is priority 1 NetOps teams consistently tell me they are overwhelmed by the growing complexity of the networks they’re required to manage and struggle to keep pace with rapid release cycles. Automation is the key to making sure that network changes are configured flawlessly and new…

It’s a new year and a new decade, so it’s time for a NEW BLOG about network automation. I am getting ready for Cisco Live Europe 2020 and want to give everyone a preview of some of what I’ll be talking about in my session How DevNet Sandbox Built an Automated Data Center Network in…